Flushed Away…Buying A Property With A Septic Tank? Read This.

Law Society revises Property Information Form (fourth edition 2020) (TA6) and explanatory notes

The Law Society has published a second revision of TransAction form Property Information Form (fourth edition 2020) (Form TA6) and the accompanying explanatory notes.

The revised editions amend the fourth edition of Form TA6 and the explanatory notes that were published in February 2020.

Enquiry 12.5 asks if sewerage for the property is provided by a septic tank. The revised Form TA6 clarifies that if the answer is “yes” and the property is in England and served by a septic tank that discharges directly into surface water, the property owner must do one of the following as soon as possible:

• Connect to a mains sewer.
• Install a drainage field (also known as an infiltration system) so the septic tank can discharge to ground instead.
• Replace the septic tank with a small sewage treatment plant.

The property owner must have plans in place to carry out this work within a reasonable timescale, typically 12 months. Reference to the need to upgrade or replace by January 2020 has been removed, which reflects the Environment Agency’s removal of the January 2020 deadline from its guidance in October 2019).

The explanatory notes reflect the change to enquiry 12.5 and have expanded the information provided in relation to enquiry 12.2 regarding electricity, linking to government guidance on electrical safety in dwellings.

See – https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/articles/transaction-forms